Workstock blanking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for blanking workpieces from strip or coil workstock and adapted to be operatively associated with a workpiece forming machine, the apparatus comprising first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from the workstock, and means for progressively feeding the strip workstock to the first and second blanking means and for thereafter transferring the blanked workpieces to the forming machine, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from the strip stock by the first means and may thereafter be further partially blanked by the second means, and may be finally transferred to the forming machine where a drawing or other forming operation may be performed thereon.

United States Patent 1191 Hempelmann 1 Sept. 25, 1973 WORKSTOCK BLANKINGAPPARATUS Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [75] Inventor: Heinz J.Hempelmann, Warren, Exam mer Robert Rogers Mich Att0rney-J. Kmg Harnesset al.

[73] Assignee: Richard & Trute Tool & Die

Corporation, Warren, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus forblanking workpieces from [22] Flled' 1971 strip or coil workstock andadapted to be opcratively [21] Appl. No.: 176,086 associated with aworkpiece forming machine, the apparatus comprising first and secondmeans for partially blanking workpieces from the workstock, and means[52] US. Cl. 72/336 for progressively feeding the Strip workstock to thefirst [51] Int. Cl B2ld 28/00 d d bl d f ft t f [58] Field of Search72/336, 339, DIG. 11; mg 83/9 41 43 113/113 R 116 E rmg the blankedworkpleces to the formlng machme, whereby the workpieces may bepartially blanked from [56] References Cited the str1p stock by thefirst means and may thereafter be further partially blanked by thesecond means, and may I UNITED STATES PATENTS be finally transferred tothe forming machine where a 3,596,493 8/1971 Lachaussee 72/339 drawingor other forming operation may be performed 2,600,834 6/1952 B12111thereon 2,962,943 12/1960 Mumper 83/405 37 Claims, 10 Drawing FiguresPATENTED8EP25|975 3.760.623

saw 1 0f 3 INVENTCR.

WORKSTOCK BLANKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lectedlongitudinal path into the blanking and drawing dies, but also to shiftthe workstock back and forth laterally of the path to accommodate forthe nested arrangement of the workpiece blanks.

The aforesaid techniques have been well known in a variety of differentindustries, but have found particularly wide spread acceptance withregard to :the .pro-

duction of automotive wheel covers. One objectionable characteristic,however, has resulted from the above described procedures, especially inconnection with the manufacture of vehicle wheel covers. In particular,this objection has stemmed from the inherent limitations of existingblanking and drawing dies of the type which not only blank or cut aworkpiece of predetermined shape from the stip or coil workstock :fedthereto, but also function to draw the workpiece blank into somepreselected configuration. The aforesaid objectionable problem hasoriginated from the modern trend of producing vehicle wheel covers whichare extremely .omamental in appearance, which in turn has resulted inthe production of wheel covers of more complex crosssectional shape andconfiguration.Unfortunately, commonly available combination blanking anddrawing dies have the inherent limitation that only relatively simpledrawingoperations can be performed concurrently with the blanking ofworkpieces from the strip workstock fedthereto, and therefore, in orderto fabricate a wheel cover of relatively sophisticated shape, a largenumber of subsequent drawing operations has been necessary after theworkpieces have been initially subjected to the operation of theblankinganddrawing dies. Accordingly, such combination blanking anddrawing dies fall shortof satisfying the mass production requirements ofthe automobile wheel cover industry.

The present invention is intended to overcome the shortcomingsheretofore encountered in connection with the blanking and drawing ofrelatively complex workpieces, such as ornamental vehicle wheel covers,through the provision of a novel workpiece blanking apparatus adapted tobe operatively associated with .a shifting coil feeding apparatus andwhich is adapted to permit the use of draw dies adaptedto performrelatively complex drawing operations, as opposed to the.

relatively simple drawing ability of the combination blanking anddrawing dies known in the prior-art. More k particularly, the presentinvention comprises, in combination with the aforementioned drawing die,,a pair of cooperable workstock blanking dies which are adapted toreceive strip workstock from the associated coil feeding mechanism andperform partial blanking operations in timed sequential relation withrespect to operation of the draw die, where-by workpiece blanks areformed preparatory to being transferred to the associ- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally to workpiece fabricatingmachinery and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus forblanking workpieces from coil or strip workstock.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide anew and improved workpiece blank.- ing apparatus.

It is a more particularobject of the present invention :to provide a newand improved workpiece blanking apparatus adapted to be utilized withnested workpiece blanks which are fabricated from strip or coilworkstock.

.It is still another object of the present invention to provide aworkpiece blanking apparatus of the above character which is rapid inoperation .and permits the use ,of complex draw dies therewith.

It is yet another object of the present invention .to provide a new andimproved workpiece blanking apparatus which is adapted to findapplication in connection with existing shifting coil equipment and thelike.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aworkpiece blanking apparatus of the above character that will finduniversality of application.

.It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved workpiece blanking apparatus which .is of a strong, durabledesign and which will therefore have a long and effective operationallife.

QOther objects and advantages of the .present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view ofthe workpiece :blanking apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top elevational view of a sec- ,tion of stripworkstock and illustrates the nested relationship of the workpieceswhich are to be blanked therefrom by means of the methodand apparatusofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevational view of one of theblanking machines of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is .an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. .3; I FIG. 5 is .an enlargedfragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line .6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewtakensubstantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3,

and

FIGS. 8-10 are schematic representations of the punching, notching andlancing operations performed "by the blanking machines of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For purposes ofdescription, the below listed definitions will apply to the followingspecification and appended claims:

workpiece A completed or partially completed article which has beensubjected to a forming or drawing operation. I

Workstock Material from which workpieces are to be formed andfrequently, although not necessarily, being in the form of a strip ofmaterial, as might be provided by the unrolling of a coil or roll ofmaterial.

Blanks Sections or pieces of workstock which have been removed,separated or partially removed from the strip or coil thereof and whichare adapted to be conveyed or otherwise transferred into a drawing orforming die in which the blanks are converted or otherwise transformedinto workpieces, as defined above.

It will be noted that while the present invention will find wide anddiversified use in a great many workpiece forming applications, thisinvention has been found particularly applicable in connection with thefabrication of vehicle wheel covers which utilize generally annular orcircular shaped workpiece blanks that areseparated from coil workstockand subsequently fed or conveyed into a forming machine which performs adrawing operation on the workstock blanks, resulting in partial orcomplete fabrication of the wheel covers from the blanks. Toward thisend, the present invention has been illustrated herein in connectionwith the separation or partial separation of generally circular shapedworkpiece blanks from coil or strip workstock, which blanks particularlylend themselves to the aforedescribed nesting principles in order tooptimize use of the coil or strip workstock.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and2, a workpiece blanking apparatus 10, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, is shown generally as being locatedat a workpiece blanking station 12 which is operatively associated andcooperable with a workpiece forming station 14. As will be described,the station 12 is adapted to receive strip workstock representativelydesignated by the numeral 16 and perform a blanking operation thereon,whereby to form a plurality of workstock blanks 18 which aresubsequently transferred or conveyed to the forming station 14 in whichthe blanks 18 are transformed into appropriate workpieces. Generallyspeaking, the workstock 16 is adapted to be fed or conveyed in thedirection of the arrow 20 in FIG. 2 toward the blanking station 12, andthe workpiece blanks 18 which are formed therefrom are arranged in anested or staggered relationship, whereby residual or waste material,i.e., that material of the workstock 16 which is not utilized in theworkpiece blanks 18, per se, is minimized to the extreme, as is wellknown in the art. Typically, the workstock 16 is supplied from a roll orcoil thereof which is fed to the apparatus by means of a laterallyshifting or oscillating coil feeding apparatus (not shown) thatfunctions to oscillate or shift the strip of work stock 16 laterallyback and forth relative to the longitudinal path of movement, i.e.,direction of feed, thereof, whereby the respective rows of blanks 18 inthe workstock 16 are alternately moved into registry with the forming ordrawing dies provided in the station 14, as will hereinafter bedescribed in detail.

Referring now in detail to the workpiece blanking station 12 of theapparatus 10, in general, located at the station 12 is a pair ofgenerally identical blanking machines 22 and 24 which are arranged inlateral alinged relationship on the opposite sides of the path ordirection of movement of the workstock 16 toward and into the formingstation 14. Each of the machines 22, 24 is adapted to perform a partialblanking operation on the workstock 16 in a manner such that theworkpiece blanks 18 are substantially cut away or separated from thestrip workstock 16, yet are secured thereto by a minimal amount ofmaterial so that the respective blanks 18 will remain in the samegeneral orientation with respect to one another as they are conveyed tothe forming station 14. More particularly, each of the machines 22, 24,is adapted to perform, in a single stamping operation or cycle, apiercing, notching and lancing or slitting operation on the workstock16, with the three operations performed by each of the machines 22, 24resulting in a virtually complete cutting away or release of the blanks18 from the workstock 16. With reference to FIG. 2, in a single stampingoperation, the machine 22 is adapted to cut or notch a generallytriangular shaped section 26 away from the workstock 16, as well aspunch or piece the workstock 16 to remove a second generally triangularshaped section 28 therefrom. Also, during this same operational cycle,the machine 22 forms a pair of elongated slits or lances 30 and 32 inthe workstock 16, the former of which extends substantially laterallybetween the notched and pierced sections 26 and 28, while the latterslit or lance 32 extends angularly into the pierced section 28. In asimilar manner, the machine 24, during each of its operational cycles,is adapted to perform substantially identical notching, piercing andlancing operations on the side of the workstock 16 laterally oppositethat which is subjected to the action of the machine 22. That is, duringeach cycle of the machine 24, a generally triangular shaped section 26',a generally triangular shaped pierced section 28' and a pair ofelongated slits or lances 30' and 32 are formed in theworkstock 16. Aswill hereinafter be described in detail, the machines 22, 24 are adaptedto perform alternate stamping operations of the workstock 16 with theresult, for example, that initially the notched section 26, piercedsection 28 and lances 30, 32 are formed in the workstock l6;thereinafter, the workstock 16 is moved forwardly and laterally towardthe machine 24 which performs the next stamping operation during whichthe notched section 26', pierced section 28' and lances 30, and 32', areformed. This process is continuously repeated with the blanking machines22 and 24 alternately performing their respective notching, piercing andlancing operations, and .the workstock 16 being progressively shiftedlaterally back and forth between the machines 22, 24, and at the sametime being fed or conveyed forwardly toward the forming station 14 wherethe series of workpiece blanks 18 are formed into workpieces. In thisregard, it will be noted that the opposite ends of the lances 30, and30' terminate a preselected distance, i.e., in the order of less than aquarter of an inch, away from the adjacent portions of the notchedsections 26, 26' and pierced sections 28, 28', so that with theexception of these small connecting portions or webs, herein identifiedat 34 in FIG. 2, the aforesaid stamping operations by the machines 22,24 result in generally circular shaped workstock blanks 18 beingcompletely cut or separated from the workstock 16.

By virtue of the fact that the blanking machines 22, 24 aresubstantially identical in construction and. operation to one another,the following detailed description of the machine 22 will apply to theassociated machine 24, it being apparent that the corresponding oranalogous component parts of the machine 24 will be arranged laterallyopposite those of the machine 22.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the blanking machine 22 generallycomprises a horizontally disposed support member or element 36 which isadapted to be supported upon a suitable fixed bolster 38 whereby tooperatively support the machine 22 in the orientation shown in FIG. 1with respect to the workpiece forming station 14. Disposed directlyabove the element 36 is a generally horizontally disposed upper platen40 which is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement toward and awayfrom the support element 36. As best seen in FIG. 7, the platen 40 issupported for such vertical re ciprocal movement by means of one or moreguide assemblies, generally designated 42, consisting of a guideway 44mounted on the upper side of the element 36 and carrying an annular wearresistant bushing or the like 46 in the upper end thereof. The bushing46 is adapted to slidingly engage a cooperable bushing 48 carried on aguideway 50 mounted on the lower side of the platen 40. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, the guideways 44, 50 cooperateto permit upward and downward reciprocal movement of the platen 40during each operational cycle of the machine 22, which reciprocalmovement may be effected by any conventional powered device, ram or thelike (not shown). It will be noted that the machine 22 may be providedwith suitable resilient spring assemblies, such as those shown at 51inFIG. 5, for biasing the platen 40 upwardly to its deactuated positionsubsequent to each stamping cycle, as is well known in the art.

The support element 36 is adapted to have operatively secured on theupper side thereof a generally triangularly shaped die 52 which definesa pair of arcuately inwardly converging and intersecting notching orcutting edges 53 and 54 which are cooperable with a pair ofcomplementary shaped cutting or notching edges 56 and 58 of a downwardlyprojecting punch 60 that is fixedly secured to the underside of theplaten 40 in vertical aligned relationship with respect to the die 52,with the result that upon downward movement of the platen 40 the cuttingedges 53, 5 6 and 54, 58 will cut or shear the workstock 16 to form apair of arcuate intersecting edges-62 and 64 (see FIG. 2), which in turnresults in the removal or notching of the section 26 from the workstock16.

Together with the die 52, the support element 36 is adapted tooperatively support a second generally triangularly shaped die 66 whichis spaced laterally away from the die 52 and arranged in longitudinalalignment therewith, the die 66 being operatively secured to the element36 by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 68. As best seen inFIG. 3, the die 66 defines three generally straight cutting edges 70, 72and 74 which define a central opening 75 therebetween, with theintersection of the edges 70, 72 being substantially laterally alignedwith the intersection of the cutting edges 53, 54 of the die 52. The die66 is cooperable with a complementary shaped punch 76 which is fixedlysecured to the underside of the platen 40 directly above the die 66. Thepunch 76 is also of a generally triangular configuration substantiallyidentical in size and shape with respect to the opening defined by thecutting edges 70-74, with the punch 76 defining three cutting edges 78,80 and 82 cooperable with the cutting edges 70, 72 and 74, respectively.As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, at such time as theplaten 40 is biased downwardly relative to the support element 36 whenthe workstock 16 is disposed therebetween, the punch 76 and die 66 willcooperate with one another to punch or shear the workstock 16 alongthree intersecting sides 84, 86 and 88, whereby the section 28 will beremoved therefrom simultaneously with removal of the section 26, asabove described.

In addition to the cooperable punches and dies 60, 52 v and 76, 66, theplaten 40 and support element 36 carry two pair of lancing or slittingtools for forming the lances or slits 30 and 32 in the workstock 16during each operational cycle of the machine 22. More particularly, theslit 30 is formed by cooperable lanching tools 90 and 92 which arerespectively secured to the lower side of the platen 40 and the upperside of the element 36 and are provided with cooperable, generallyvertically aligned cutting or shearing edges 94 and 96, respectively,that extend laterally between the dies 52, 66 a nd punches 60, 76,whereupon downward movement of the platen 40 will effect the cutting orformation of the lance or slit 30 in the workstock 16.

Similarly, the lance or slit 32 is adapted to be formed by cooperablelancing tools 98 and 100 (see FIG. 3) which, like tools 90 and 92, arecarried on the underside of the platen 40 and upper side of the supportele' ment 36 and define cutting or shearing edges 102 and 104 whichcooperate upon downward movement of the platen 40 to effect the cuttingor slitting of the workstock 16 to form the lance 32.

Briefly .in operation of the machine 22, it will be seen that each timethe ram or other actuating means for the machine 22 is energized, theplaten 40 will be moved vertically downwardly, whereby the punches 60and 76 will cooperate with the dies 52 and 66, respectively, to removethe notched section 26 and pierced section 28 from the workstock l6.Simultaneously, the lancing tools 90, 92 and 98, 100 will cooperate toform the lances or slits 30 and 32. It will be appreciated, of course,that when the machine 22 is in a deactuated condition between eachstamping cycle thereof, the platen 22 is elevated sufficiently above thesupport element 36 to permit the workstock 16 to be fed or conveyedtherebetween.

As previously mentioned, the blanking machine 24 is virtually identicalin construction and operation to the machine 22 and is provided withidentical notching, piercing and lancing tools, i.e., punches anddies,'s o that during each operational cycle thereof the sections 26'and 28' are removed from the workstock l6 and the slits or lances 30'and 32' are formed therein. It will be noted that the machine 24 isoperable independently of the machine 22 and during operation of theforming apparatus 10 of the present invention, is adapted toalternatewith the machine 22 in performing a partial blanking operationon the workstock 16, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

With reference now to the wo'rkpieceforming station 14,.as best seen inFIGS. 1 and 4, by wayof example, the station 14 comprises a workpiecedrawing machine,

generally designated by the numeral 110, which comprises a relativelyfixed lower bolster or other support structure 112 carrying a draw die114 that is cooperable with an associated upper draw die or punch 116mounted on a vertically reciprocal platen 1 18. The dies or punches 114,116 are illustrated herein as being of a type adapted to perform a wheelcover drawing operation upon the workstock blanks 18 which are conveyedthereto subsequent to said blanks 18 being subjected to the blankingoperations of the machines 22, 24. It will be appreciated, of course,that the forming machine 110 may be adapted to form by drawing or othersuitable techniques, any of a variety of other types of workpieces, andthat the workpiece designated by the numeral 120 in FIG. 4 consisting ofa partially completed wheel cover is shown merely as an exemplaryworkpiece. The machine 110 is arranged at a position forwardly ordownstream from the blanking machine 22, 24, as seen in FIG. 1, with themachine 110 being provided with any suitable powered means or the likefor effecting reciprocal movement of the platen 118 (or, where desired,the bolster 112) during each drawing operation. It may be noted that thedies or punches 114, 116 are designed such that they not only perform adrawing operation on the workpiece blanks l8 fed thereto, but they alsoeffect separation or shearing of the intermediate or connecting webs 34which comprise the sole means of securing the workpiece blanks 18 to theworkstock 16 as they are transferred from the station 12 to the station14. Thus, during each operational cycle of the machine 110, individualworkpiece blanks 18 which have been fed thereto from the station 12 aredrawn into some preselected shape and are simultaneously separated fromthe remaining blanks 18.

Referring now to the overall operation of the workpiece blanking'apparatus of the present invention, the machine 110 is intended tooperate sequentially to draw successive workpiece blanks 18 intocompleted or partially completed workpieces, i.e., vehicle'wheel covers.During each operational cycle of the machine 110, the blanking machines22 and 24 are intended to operate alternatively of one another andconcurrently with the machine 110. In other words, during oneoperational cycle the machines 110 and 22 will operate simultaneously,and during the next operational cycle, the machines 110 and 24 willoperate simultaneously, and the following cycle will have the machines 110 and 22 again operating and and so on. Conventional control means (notshown) well known in the art may be utilized for synchronizing theoperationof machines 22, 24 and 110, with such control means beingoperable with the associated coil feeding apparatus which functions tofeed the workstock 16 and effect lateral oscillation or shiftingthereof.

Referring now to an exemplary operational cycle of the apparatus 10,assuming the initial condition that the workstock 16 is being conveyedto the apparatus 10 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, with theforward end thereof being indicated at 122 in FIG. 8, and furtherassuming that the workstock 16 is shifted laterally into position in themachine 22 and the sequence of the apparatus 10 is such that the machine22 is next actuatable with the machine 110, the aforesaid control means,which may be automatic or workstock position responsive, is energized toeffect simultaneous actuation of machines 110 and 22. With reference toFIG. 8,

when actuation of the machines and 22 occurs, the machine 22 will effectremoval of the notched section A, pierced section B, and will effect theformation of lances C and D, corresponding to the sections 26, 28 andlances 30 and 32, respectively, hereinabove described. Simultaneously,the machine 110 will be actuated to effect the drawing of a workpieceindicated at 124 in FIG. 8, which workpiece will then be conveyed tosome destination for subsequent manufacturing operations. In the eventthe forward end 122 of the workstock 16 consists of the leading end of anew strip or coil of workstock, only a partial workpiece will be drawnby the machine 110, which workpiece will be discarded, as will beapparent. Upon completion of this operational cycle, the platens 40 and118 will be raised and the workstock 16 will be fed forwardly andshifted laterally toward the machine 24 until the workpiece blank 126 inFIGS. 8 and 9 is moved into registry with the dies and punches 114 and116, which workpiece 126 was partially blanked or cut away from theworkstock 16 by the aforementioned operation of the blanking machine 22.Thereafter, the next operational cycle of the machine 110 will occur,during which time the blanking machine 24 will simultaneously operate.Accordingly, the operation of the machine 110 will effect drawing of theworkpiece blank 126, and the operation of the blanking machine 24 willeffect removal of the notched section E, pierced section F and formlances or slits G and H in FIG. 9, the sections E, F and lances G and Hpartially releasing the next workpiece blank 128 to be drawn by themachine 1 10. Upon completion of this operational cycle, the platen 118of the machine 110 is raised, as is the platen of the blanking machine24, after which time the workstock 16 is fed forwardly and shiftedlaterally back toward the machine 22 to a position wherein the workpieceblank 128 is in registry with the dies and punches l 14, 1 16 of themachine 1 10. During the next operational cycle of the machine 1 10, thedies and punches 114, 116 will effect a drawing of the workpiece blank128 and simultaneously, the blanking machine 22 will effect removal ofnotched section I, pierced section J and will form lances K and L,thereby partially freeing the next subsequent workpiece blank to bedrawn, which is herein identified by the numeral 130.

It will be seen from the above that the workstock 16 is first subjectedto the operation of one of the blanking machines 22, 24 where theworkpiece blanks 18 are partially cut away from the workstock 16,after'which time the partially formed or separated workpiece blanks aresubjected to the operation of the other of the blanking machines 22, 24wherein the blanks are further separated or released from the workstock16, and that after each workstock blank has been subjected to thepartial blanking operation of each of the machines 22, 24, it isretained or secured to the workstock 16 by only the webs or uncutportions 34 at the terminal ends of the lances or slits. The portions34, of course, are severed concurrently with the drawing of theworkpiece blanks, as above described. It may be noted that wheredesired, the various dies and punches may be designed so thatpositioning or handling tabs or other formations are produced on theworkpiece blanks in order to facilitate handling or positioning thereofwithin the associated forming machine 110. By way of example, thepunches and dies may be designed so as to form tab-like protuberances132 on the workpieces 18 to facilitate proper positioning thereof as theworkpieces are conveyed into and oriented within the machine 110.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a new and improved workpiece blanking apparatus whichis designed to take full advantage of the workpiece blank nestingprinciples that have been found to minimize material waste to theextreme. Additionally, it will be seen by virtue of the fact thatworkpiece blanks are formed prior to being conveyed into the associatedforming machine or draw die, more complex drawing operations may beperformed since the drawing machine is not responsible for performing asimultaneous blanking operation. Thus, more complex drawn shapes may beachieved in order to reduce the overall number of drawing operationsrequired to fabricate a relatively ornamental or otherwise complexworkpiece. Additionally, it will be noted that the present inventionwill find wide and varied application in that the various dies, punchesand lancing tools which are utilized therein may be easily' changed insize or position without adversely affecting the overall operation ofthe apparatus 10, so that, in the automobile industry, for example,workpiece blanks of different sizes may be readily produced toaccommodate periodic model changes.

Although the means for providing adjustment or reorientation of thevarious tools, dies and punches has not been shown in detail, such meanscould typically be in the form of slideways or keyed mounting means foradjustably securing the tools to the associated bolsters and platens, aswill be apparent to the skilled artisen.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments illustratedherein are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it willbe appreciated that the present invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

I claim: a

1. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces fromworkstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpieceblanks, first and second 'means for partially blanking workpieces from astrip of-workstock conveyed thereto, said first means partially blankinga first portion of each workpiece and said second means partiallyblanking a different portion of each workpiece, and

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and secondmeans and for thereafter feeding the blanked'workpieces formed therebyto the forming apparatus; whereby the' workpiece may be partiallyblanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter befurther blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferredto said forming apparatus for forming.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and secondmeans include means for blanking nestingly oriented workpiece blanks.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidmeans for blanking workpieces comprises means for notching theworkstock.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidmeans for blanking workpieces comprises means for piercing theworkstock.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidmeans for blanking workpieces comprises means for lancing the workstock.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidmeans for blanking workpieces com prises means for notching, piercingand lancing the workstock in order to partially separate a workpieceblank therefrom.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and secondmeans include means for blanking generally circular shaped workpieceblanks.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and secondmeans comprises means for removing generally triangular shaped notchedand pierced sections from the workstock.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and secondmeans are operable during alternate cycles of said workpiece formingapparatus to partially blank workpieces from said workstock.

10. An apparaus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and secondworkpiece blanking means are arranged along the opposite sides of thepath of travel of workstock being fed to the apparatus, and wherein saidfeed means comprises means for laterally shifting the workstock back andforth between said blanking means.

l 1. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said blanking meanscomprises substantially independent blanking machines which are operablealternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece formingapparatus.

12. Apparatus for forming workpieces from workstock comprising:

feed means for feeding the workstock along a preselected path; 7

first means located along one side of said-path for partially formingworkpieces from said workstock;

second means located along the opposite side of said path for partiallyforming workpieces from said workstock;

means for shiftingthe workstock laterally of said path between saidfirst and second means; and

, means including a workpiece forming apparatus located substantiallyalong said path for receiving said workstock from one of said first andsecond means.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond means are operable to blank generally circular shaped workpieceblanks from the workstock.

l4.- The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond means are adapted to partially blank nested workpiece blanks fromthe workstock.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond means include workstock cutting means for substantially releasinggenerally circular shaped workpiece blanks from the workstock, andwherein said cutting means are arranged so as to leave a preselectedportion of said workpiece blanks remaining integral with the workstock,whereby the workpiece blanks remain in a preselected orientation withrespect to one another as they are transferred to said workpiece formingapparatus.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond means are operable during alternate cycles of said workpieceforming apparatus to partially blank workpieces from said workstock.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond means comprises means for removing generally triangular shapednotched and pierced sections from the workstock.

18. In combination with an apparatus for feeding strip workstock along apreselected path for shifting the workstock laterally of said path asthe workstock is fed therealong,

first means located along one side of said path for partially blankingworkpieces from said strip workstock,

second means located along the opposite side of said path for partiallyblanking workpieces from said strip workstock, and

a workpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path forreceiving the strip workstock after the same has had workpiecespartially blanked by said first and second means and adapted to performa forming operation on said workpieces, said first means being operableconcurrently with said forming apparatus for partially separating agenerally circular shaped workpiece blank from the workstock during afirst operational cycle of the forming apparatus, said second meansbeing operable to further separate said workpiece blank from theworkstock during a second operational cycle of said forming apparatus,and said first means being operable to still further separate saidworkpiece blank from the workstock during a third operational cycle ofsaid forming apparatus.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein at least one ofsaid means for blanking workpieces comprises means for notching,piercing and lancing the workstock in order to partially separate aworkpiece blank therefrom.

20. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude,

conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing afirst blanking operation partially forming a portion of said workpiece,

conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing asecond blanking operation at least partialy forming a different portionof said workpiece. 21. The method as set forth in claim 20 whichincludes the steps of alternately operating said first and secondblanking apparatus.

22. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude,

conveying theworkstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing afirst blanking operation thereon,

conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing asecond blanking operation, and

alternately operating said blanking apparatus during successiveoperational cycles of said forming apparatus.

23. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude,

conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing afirst blanking operation thereon,

conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing asecond blanking operation, and

alternately shifting the workstock laterally between the first andsecond blanking apparatus while simultaneously transferring a workpieceblank to the forming apparatus. 24. The method as set forth in claim 20which includes the step of partially blanking the workstock with thefirst'apparatus by removing a preselected portion of the workstock, andsubsequently further partially blanking a workpiece blank by removingadditional material from said workstock with said second apparatus.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24 which includes the step ofremoving material from said workstock with said first and secondapparatus by performing at least one operation from the group includingnotching, piercing and lancing the workstock.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25 which includes the step ofnotching, piercing and lancing the workstock with each of said first andsecond blanking apparatus.

27. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude,

conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing afirst blanking operation thereon,

partially releasing a workpiece blank from the workstock with the firstapparatus, thereafter conveying the workstock to a second blankingapparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and includingshifting the workstock to said second apparatus and further partiallyreleasing said workpiece blank therefrom, and thereafter shifting theworkstock back toward said first apparatus and still further releasingthe workpiece blank from the workstock.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step ofperforming a forming operation with said forming apparatus during eachreleasing operation performed by said first and second blankingapparatus.

29. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step ofconveying the workstock longitudinally forwardly toward the formingapparatus concurrently with laterally shifting the workstock betweensaid first and second blanking apparatus.

30. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step ofleaving a preselected portion of each of the workpiece blanks producedby said first and second blanking apparatus integrally connected to saidworkstock to maintain relative orientation of the workpiece blanks asthey are conveyed to the workpiece forming apparatus.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30 which includes the step ofsimultaneously severing the workpiece blanks from the workstock duringthe workpiece forming operation.

32. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces fromworkstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpieceblanks, I

first and second means arranged along the opposite side of the path oftravel of workstock being fed to said apparatus for partially blankingworkpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto,

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to first and secondmeans including means for laterally shifting the workstock back andforth between said blanking means, and for thereafter feeding theblanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby theworkpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said firstmeans and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and maythereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said first means atleast partially blanks a first portion of each workpiece and said secondmeans at least partially blanks a different portion of said workpiece.

34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said blanking meanscomprises substantially independent blanking machines which are operablealternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece formingapparatus.

35. in combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces fromworkstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus having a first cycle of operation forforming workpieces from workpiece blanks, and having a first cycle ofoperation,

first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from a strip ofworkstock conveyed thereto, said blanking means comprising substantiallyindependent blanking machines which are operable altematively duringsuccessive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus,

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and secondmeans and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed therebyto the forming apparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partiallyblanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter befurther blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferredto said forming apparatus for forming.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein said first means atleast partially blanks a first portion of each workpiece and said secondmeans at least partially blanks a different portion of said workpiece.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein said first and secondworkpiece blanking means are arranged along the the opposite sides ofthe path of travel of workstock being fed to the apparatus, and whereinsaid feed means comprises means for laterally shifting the workstockback and forth between said blanking means.

1. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces fromworkstock, a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces fromworkpiece blanks, first and second means for partially blankingworkpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto, said first meanspartially blanking a first portion of each workpiece and said secondmeans partially blanking a different portion of each workpiece, andmeans for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and secondmeans and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed therebyto the forming apparatus, whereby the workpiece may be partially blankedfrom said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be furtherblanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to saidforming apparatus for forming.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said first and second means include means for blanking nestinglyoriented workpiece blanks.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprisesmeans for notching the workstock.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprisesmeans for piercing the workstock.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprisesmeaNs for lancing the workstock.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprisesmeans for notching, piercing and lancing the workstock in order topartially separate a workpiece blank therefrom.
 7. An apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means include means forblanking generally circular shaped workpiece blanks.
 8. An apparatus asset forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second means comprises meansfor removing generally triangular shaped notched and pierced sectionsfrom the workstock.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidfirst and second means are operable during alternate cycles of saidworkpiece forming apparatus to partially blank workpieces from saidworkstock.
 10. An apparaus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstand second workpiece blanking means are arranged along the oppositesides of the path of travel of workstock being fed to the apparatus, andwherein said feed means comprises means for laterally shifting theworkstock back and forth between said blanking means.
 11. An apparatusas set forth in claim 10 wherein said blanking means comprisessubstantially independent blanking machines which are operablealternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece formingapparatus.
 12. Apparatus for forming workpieces from workstockcomprising: feed means for feeding the workstock along a preselectedpath; first means located along one side of said path for partiallyforming workpieces from said workstock; second means located along theopposite side of said path for partially forming workpieces from saidworkstock; means for shifting the workstock laterally of said pathbetween said first and second means; and means including a workpieceforming apparatus located substantially along said path for receivingsaid workstock from one of said first and second means.
 13. Thecombination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second meansare operable to blank generally circular shaped workpiece blanks fromthe workstock.
 14. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidfirst and second means are adapted to partially blank nested workpieceblanks from the workstock.
 15. The combination as set forth in claim 12wherein said first and second means include workstock cutting means forsubstantially releasing generally circular shaped workpiece blanks fromthe workstock, and wherein said cutting means are arranged so as toleave a preselected portion of said workpiece blanks remaining integralwith the workstock, whereby the workpiece blanks remain in a preselectedorientation with respect to one another as they are transferred to saidworkpiece forming apparatus.
 16. The combination as set forth in claim12 wherein said first and second means are operable during alternatecycles of said workpiece forming apparatus to partially blank workpiecesfrom said workstock.
 17. The combination as set forth in claim 12wherein said first and second means comprises means for removinggenerally triangular shaped notched and pierced sections from theworkstock.
 18. In combination with an apparatus for feeding stripworkstock along a preselected path for shifting the workstock laterallyof said path as the workstock is fed therealong, first means locatedalong one side of said path for partially blanking workpieces from saidstrip workstock, second means located along the opposite side of saidpath for partially blanking workpieces from said strip workstock, and aworkpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path forreceiving the strip workstock after the same has had workpiecespartially blanked by said first and second means and adapted to performa forming operation on said workpieces, said first means being operableconcurrently with said forming apparatus for partially separating agenerally circular shaped workpiece blank from the workstock during afirst operational cycle of the forming apparatus, said second meansbeing operable to further separate said workpiece blank from theworkstock during a second operational cycle of said forming apparatus,and said first means being operable to still further separate saidworkpiece blank from the workstock during a third operational cycle ofsaid forming apparatus.
 19. The combination as set forth in claim 18wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprisesmeans for notching, piercing and lancing the workstock in order topartially separate a workpiece blank therefrom.
 20. In the method ofblanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring theworkstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a formingoperation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying theworkstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blankingoperation partially forming a portion of said workpiece, conveying theworkstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a secondblanking operation at least partialy forming a different portion of saidworkpiece.
 21. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes thesteps of alternately operating said first and second blanking apparatus.22. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus andperforming a first blanking operation thereon, conveying the workstockto a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blankingoperation, and alternately operating said blanking apparatus duringsuccessive operational cycles of said forming apparatus.
 23. In themethod of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferringthe workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a formingoperation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying theworkstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blankingoperation thereon, conveying the workstock to a second blankingapparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and alternatelyshifting the workstock laterally between the first and second blankingapparatus while simultaneously transferring a workpiece blank to theforming apparatus.
 24. The method as set forth in claim 20 whichincludes the step of partially blanking the workstock with the firstapparatus by removing a preselected portion of the workstock, andsubsequently further partially blanking a workpiece blank by removingadditional material from said workstock with said second apparatus. 25.The method as set forth in claim 24 which includes the step of removingmaterial from said workstock with said first and second apparatus byperforming at least one operation from the group including notching,piercing and lancing the workstock.
 26. The method as set forth in claim25 which includes the step of notching, piercing and lancing theworkstock with each of said first and second blanking apparatus.
 27. Inthe method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior totransferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus andperforming a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps whichinclude, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus andperforming a first blanking operation thereon, partially releasing aworkpiece blank from the workstock with the first apparatus, thereafterconveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing asecond blanking operation, and including shifting the workstock to saidsecond apparatus and further partially releasing said workpiece blanktherefrom, and thereafter shifting the workstock back toward said firstapparatus and still further releasing the workpiece blank from theworkstock.
 28. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes thestep of performing a forming operation with said forming apparatusduring each releasing operation performed by said first and secondblanking apparatus.
 29. The method as set forth in claim 27 whichincludes the step of conveying the workstock longitudinally forwardlytoward the forming apparatus concurrently with laterally shifting theworkstock between said first and second blanking apparatus.
 30. Themethod as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step of leaving apreselected portion of each of the workpiece blanks produced by saidfirst and second blanking apparatus integrally connected to saidworkstock to maintain relative orientation of the workpiece blanks asthey are conveyed to the workpiece forming apparatus.
 31. The method asset forth in claim 30 which includes the step of simultaneously severingthe workpiece blanks from the workstock during the workpiece formingoperation.
 32. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpiecesfrom workstock, a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpiecesfrom workpiece blanks, first and second means arranged along theopposite side of the path of travel of workstock being fed to saidapparatus for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstockconveyed thereto, means for progressively feeding strip workstock tofirst and second means including means for laterally shifting theworkstock back and forth between said blanking means, and for thereafterfeeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus,whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock bysaid first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said secondmeans and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus forforming.
 33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said firstmeans at least partially blanks a first portion of each workpiece andsaid second means at least partially blanks a different portion of saidworkpiece.
 34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein saidblanking means comprises substantially independent blanking machineswhich are operable alternatively during successive cycles of saidworkpiece forming apparatus.
 35. In combination in an apparatus forfabricating workpieces from workstock, a workpiece forming apparatushaving a first cycle of operation for forming workpieces from workpieceblanks, and having a first cycle of operation, first and second meansfor partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyedthereto, said blanking means comprising substantially independentblanking machines which are operable alternatively during successivecycles of said workpiece forming apparatus, means for progressivelyfeeding strip workstock to said first and second means and forthereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the formingapparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from saidstrip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked bysaid second means and may thereafter be transferred to said formingapparatus for forming.
 36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, whereinsaid first means at least partially blanks a first portion of eachworkpiece and said second means at least partially blanks a differentportion of said workpiece.
 37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35,wherein said first and second workpiece blanking means are arrangedalong the the opposite sides of the path of travel of workstock beingfed to the apparatus, and wherein said feed means comprises means forlaterally shifting the workstock back and forth between said blankingmeans.